# conviction

/kənˈvɪkʃən/ (US) · /kənvˈɪkʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/conviction
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a strong belief

noun · CEFR B2

a very strong opinion or belief that you are sure is right.

For teachers: a firmly held belief or opinion. Often used with the preposition 'that' or 'of'.

- She spoke with deep conviction about the need for better schools in the city.
- It is my firm conviction that the proposed environmental regulations will ultimately strengthen the local economy rather than hinder it.

### 2. legal guilt

noun · CEFR B2

a formal decision in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime.

For teachers: a formal declaration by a court of law or jury that someone is guilty of a criminal offence.

- The thief had several previous convictions for stealing cars.
- The prosecutor struggled to secure a conviction because the primary witness refused to testify under oath.

### 3. feeling of certainty

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the feeling of being completely sure about something.

For teachers: the state or quality of being convinced of the truth of something. Uncountable in this sense.

- He lacked the conviction to lead the team through such a difficult project.
- The actor delivered his lines with such conviction that the audience forgot they were watching a fictional play.

## Examples

- She spoke with deep conviction about the need for change.
- Despite the lack of support from his peers, he held onto his conviction that the experiment would eventually succeed.
- The defendant's previous conviction for a similar offence significantly influenced the judge's decision to impose a more rigorous sentence during the final hearing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.